Library · New Castle
New Castle Public Library
New Castle Public Library serves New Castle’s 24,805 residents. Last year it logged 57,906 visits, about 2.3 for every resident, and lent 55K books, movies and e-books.
IMLS Public Libraries Survey, fiscal year 2024Your library
New Castle Public Library
424 Delaware Street, New Castle 19720
48 hrsopen a week
23,000sq ft
30Kbooks & media
Charges late finesLate fees on some overdue items
E-books & audiobooksBorrow from home with your card
Auto-renews loansBooks renew on their own if no one’s waiting
Research databasesOnline courses, journals, genealogy and more
#14
#14 of 21 DE libraries for visits per residentAmong every public library system in Delaware that reported visits
Fiscal year 2024
A year at the library
58K
visits
2.3 per resident
55K
loans, print + digital
2.2 per resident
346
programs & events
6,569 attended
5,716
library cards
23% of people served
How it compares
Against libraries serving 10,000 to 25,000 people
Per-resident numbers, compared only with libraries of a similar size across the country, because a tiny town’s library always looks busier per person.
Visits per resident
2.3 visits · typical 3.1
A little below typical (37th percentile)
Borrowing per resident
1.6 print items · typical 3.9
Lower than most similar-size libraries (18th percentile)
Digital borrowing
0.6 e-items · typical 1.1
A little below typical (32th percentile)
Kids’ borrowing
0.6 kids’ items · typical 1.8
Lower than most similar-size libraries (18th percentile)
Program attendance
0.3 attendees · typical 0.4
A little below typical (29th percentile)
Cardholders
23% of residents
Lower than most similar-size libraries (18th percentile)
Borrowing & programs
What people use it for
What people borrow
55K loans last year
Books & media (adults)44%Kids’ books & media27%E-books, audio & streaming29%
Who the programs are for
346 story times, classes, clubs and events
Money
Who pays for it
$35 per resident a year
Typical for a library this size: $43. Operating budget $861K.
Local 45%State 15%Federal 6%Gifts & other 34%
About these numbers
How to read this page
Hours are an averageThe survey reports a building’s public hours for the whole year. We divide by the weeks it was open, so check the library’s own site for today’s hours.
Compared by size“Similar-size” means libraries serving about as many people, nationwide. Per-resident numbers always flatter the smallest towns, so they’re never compared with big cities.
One year, the library’s own countLibraries report their own visits, loans and programs for fiscal year 2024. A library that didn’t respond keeps its address and hours here, with no numbers.
Source: Institute of Museum and Library Services, Public Libraries Survey, fiscal year 2024. Distances are straight-line from the town center.